Here we go with Wales for what could prove to be a crucial three or four weeks in our bid to qualify for the European Championships in Portugal next summer.

We flew out to Belgrade yesterday afternoon for our "game in hand" against Serbia-Montenegro and we've got that double-header against Italy and Finland to look forward to at the beginning of next month.

The Belgrade clash is a huge game and everyone is looking forward to it.

It's probably the biggest game most of us in the current squad have been involved in, but we seem to be saying that every time we get together nowadays.

I might be saying the same thing again in two or three weeks time when we are playing Italy or Finland but at this moment in time we can't look any further ahead than Serbia, which is a game we can win to maintain our 100pc record in Group Nine.

On a selfish note I'm glad the game has come now because if it had been played on the original date in April, neither myself nor Gary Speed would have been involved because we picked up injuries against Azerbaijan.

On another level it seems the game has been crammed into the first available friendly international date and perhaps if it were England who were playing, that would not have happened.

It means we have only got two days together to prepare, especially with Gary and Craig Bellamy having to play for Newcastle on Sunday. I can't see the powers that be allowing that to happen to one of the major European countries but we have got to get on with it.

We are in a no-win situation really because people are expecting us to go out there and win the game whereas in years gone by they would have said a draw would be a good result. I just wish people would take a more reasonable view of the game. Having said that, it's a mark of how far we have come under Mark Hughes that we are regarded as favourites.

The time was when any team went to Yugoslavia - as I still tend to call the country - they would be more than happy with a point. But our fans are expecting us to win and I believe that's something we've got to live up to.

It's a blow losing big John Hartson through injury because he's been sensational. He is a pivotal part of the way we play and he's my room-mate as well so I'll miss him on two fronts this week. But in Nathan Blake we have a very good replacement and he is an excellent player so I don't feel we need have any fears on that score.

The only cloud on the immediate horizon is that if I pick up a yellow card against Serbia I will be ruled out of the next game against Italy. But you have to take every game as it comes and not worry about the possible consequences. There are five or six of us on yellow cards but a result in Serbia by any means would make it worthwhile.

If we win in Serbia we'll take a five-point cushion to Italy and if we were to get something there as well, that would virtually seal our place in Portugal. If I were to miss the Italy game through suspension it would be a huge disappointment but I've had a few of those during my career and it's part and parcel of the game.

But I can't have much cause for complaint because my life is good at the moment. My little boy and family are well and getting on fine, we had a good win at Birmingham on Saturday and being involved with Wales at the moment is just fantastic, so let's just hope I'm in as happy a mood this time next week.